Football sighting device



Aug. 25, 1959 H. R. CLIME 2,900,727

FOOTBALL SIGHTING DEVICE Filed May 10, 1955 INVENTOR Henry 1?. C/a'nze ATTORNEY United States Patent Q FOOTBALL SIGHTING DEVICE Henry R. Clime, Elkins Park, Pa.

Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,226

3 Claims. (CI. 33-46) The game of football is played on a rectangular playing field of greater length than width having goal lines at opposite ends of the playing field, side lines, and having cross lines spaced five or ten yards apart, called yardage lines. On a line and outside of the playing field at each side of the playing field and visible from both sides are numbered discs or markers.

In the playing of the game, the side or team in possession of the football must advance it in four attempts in a forward direction or relinquish the football to the other team, if a ten yard advance has not been made.

The advance of the football is measured by a linesman with two assistants, sometimes called the chain gang, at a side line of the playing field by two markers ten yards apart and connected by a chain, the rear marker being placed at a side for the first down and the other marker being ten yards in advance of the rear marker.

If the question arises as to whether on any down and particularly on fourth down a ten yard advance has been made, then the linesman assisted by the chain gang carry the two markers to the locality of the football, place the rear marker at a point in lateral alignment with the first down position, and then, assisted by the referee and field judges, measure with the markers and chain to ascertain if a first down has been made. Accurate rulings as to ground gained cannot be made in this manner, and honest disputes often occur as to the correctness of the rulings before the final decision can be rendered. Normally, five field and quasi field ofiicials are involved in this operation, while in my invention only the linesman and operator are essential with the referee rendering the decision.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to devise a novel instrument for sighting the exact position of the football on every down by the linesman and his assistants from the side line and provide an accurate measurement for the ground gained in the advance of the football on the playing field.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which I have found, in practice, to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of Which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited, except by the scope of the appended claims, to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a down sighting and measuring device, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the device.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a down indicator which is quick detachable.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mount-able and quick detachable disc or target.

Patented Aug. 25, 1959 ice Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts l Referring to the drawings:

The down sighting device embodying this invention includes an instrument having a platform 1 at its upper end, having a ring integral with it and within which a compass 2 is rotatably mounted, the compass being provided with a knob 3 to facilitate the rotary adjustment of the lubber line or registration line indicated on the inner face of the transparent cover of the compass above the N-S needle. The compass is locked in its adjusted position by screws 4 in threaded engagement with the platform ring, and a spirit level 5 is mounted on the platform 1. The platform 1 has upstanding posts 6 in which the trunnions of a rifle sight 7 are mounted.

The platform 1 has a depending hub 8 in which a standard 9 is fixed, the standard consisting of telescopic sections for heighth adjustment of the platform, and the sections are locked in adjusted position by a screw 10. The bottom of the lower section terminates in a conical point to render it easy to move or tap to the correct position when grounded.

Above the point, a swivelled and rotatable snap fastener 11 is mounted adapted to receive a swivel 12 connected with one end of a ten yard chain 13, the other end of the chain being connected by a swivel 14 with a yard marker standard 15.

The platform 1 has depending threaded studs 16 provided with clamping nuts 17 which clamp to the platform the bottom member of a down indicator 18 having a cutout 19 to receive the hub of the platform. Side rods 20 extend upwardly from the bottom member and are connected to one of a number of down indicators 21 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends. These indicators or signs have numbers on opposite sides indicative of the number of downs. At times, a disc or target 22 is mounted on-the platform in a similar manner to the down indicator and has a color indication on both sides of it.

The stationary sign of the down indicator has the numeral 1 on one side and the numeral 4 on the opposite side. The first movable sign has the number 1 on one side and the numeral 2 on the other side. The second movable sign has the number 2 on one side and the number 3 on the other side. The third movable sign has the number 3 on one side and the number 4 on the other side. These numerals are of red reflecting material or paint against a white background. The same number is visible on opposite sides of the assembled signs. The base member of the down indicator is apertured to receive the studs 16.

Since football playing fields are not always accurate in their layout, it is first necessary to calibrate the instrument for a particular playing field. The instrument is vertically adjusted for the mutual convenient heighth of the head linesman and operator and placed at the inside junction of a side line and the goal line. The screws 4 are loosened so that the knob 3 of the compass turns easily. An upright or marker such as 22 is held at the inside junction of the side line and goal line at the opposite side of the field, and while the operator holds the sighting instrument, the head linesman sights the opposite upright marker. The head linesmans constant sight is held on the opposite upright while the operator turns the knob 3 and parallels the lubber 'line with the NS needle, making sure at the same time that the bubble of the level is in the center. The set screws for the compass are now tightened. The instrument now being calibrated to the particular playing field, the line of sight is always at a right angle to the side lines of the playing field regardless of where it is taken if there is no compass interference.

It is advisable to calibrate each sighting instrument prior to each game.

The head linesman or operator may sight the forward part of the football on each down.

On first down after the football has been sighted the instrument is removed and its identical position taken by the rear upright of the yardage chain and the forward upright of the yardage chain is placed ten yards in advance. On successive downs, the football is sighted, the instrument removed and replaced by a down marker. The operator is thus a free lance who can be in his relative position on a play as quickly as the players or field oflicials.

When a measurement is requested, the far upright of the yardage chain is replaced by the sighting instrument, and the head linesman assisted by the operator sights the forward part of the football which is to the left or right of his line of sight. The linesman then tells or signals the referee whether the most forward part of the football is to the left or right of his line of sight, and the referee renders his quick and just decision.

Two chain connected sighting devices may be employed with the present in vogue down markers. On first down, the rear sighting device is located for first down and the forward sighting device placed ten yards in advance. The present in vogue down marker is used on successive downs. When a measurement is requested, the linesman assisted by the operator of the forward instrument sights the most forward part of the football and tells or signals to the referee.

Three sighting devices may be used, two of which are chain connected, and the third utilized on each down except the first down and when a measurement is requested. If a measurement is desired to determine if a first down has been made, the forward sighting device at the forward end of the chain is sighted by the linesman assisted by the operator.

The platform is supported by a single standard instead of a tripod which latter is not practical since it cannot be quickly centered in a vertical position or quickly changed from one position to another.

The sighting devices are portable and so light in weight that the operator can start and run quickly in case bodily injury threatens.

The sighting device is easily operated and an operator can qualify as an expert with only a few minutes practice.

The mileage that the field officials and chain gang must cover during a game is much reduced.

The use of the present sighting device relieves the tension of the players, management, field officials, play by play announcers, sportcasters, reporters, rooters and spectators and makes the game more intelligible, exciting and smoother running.

I claim:

1. A football sighting device, comprising a flat plate, a compass rotatably mounted on the top face of said plate and having means to lock it in a selected position for the lubber line to parallel the NS. needle, a level on the top face of said plate, and located at one side of the compass, spaced posts fixed to said plate and extending above the compass, a rifle sight having trunnions mounted at the upper ends of said posts, and a single standard carried by said plate and having longitudinal sections longitudinally adjustable, said device prior to being used on a particular playing field being calibrated to said field to cause the line of sight to be always at a right angle to the side lines of the playing field, and the platform, standard and other component parts being of light weight to render the device capable of being quickly and manually transported and centered at a defined location at a side line of the playing field.

2. Two football sighting devices for simultaneous use, each comprising a flat plate, a compass mounted on the top face of said plate and having means to lock it in a position for the lubber line to parallel the NS. needle, a level on the plate, spaced posts carried by and extending above the plate, a rifle sight having trunnions mounted :at the upper ends of the posts, a single, longitudinally adjustable standard connected with the bottom of the plate, and a ten yard chain connected at its ends with said standards, said devices prior to use on a particular playing field being calibrated to the field whereby the line of sight of each device is at a right angle to the side lines of the playing field, and the component parts of each sighting device being of light weight to render them capable of being quickly and manually transported and centered at a defined location at a side line of the playing field.

3. A football sighting device, comprising a flat plate, a compass mounted on said plate and having means to lock it in a position for the lubber line to parallel the NS. needle, spaced posts carried by and extending above the plate, a rifle sight pivotally mounted on said posts, a single, longitudinally adjustable standard connected with the plate, a down indicator carried by the plate to be positioned above the rifle sight, and additional down indicators pivotally connected at their upper ends to the upper end of said first down indicator, said device being calibrated prior to use to a particular playing field to cause the line of sight to always be at a right angle to the side lines of the playing field.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,164 Randolph Apr. 22, 1884 1,709,041 Schutt Apr. 16, 1929 1,717,805 More June 18, 1929 1,781,666 Mihalyi Nov. 11, 1930 2,060,165 Borleske Nov. 10, 1936 2,064,745 Harrie Dec. 15, 1936 2,132,172 Langsner Oct. 4, 1938 2,189,790 Gardner et al. Feb. 13, 1940 2,795,853 Benfield June 18, 1957 

